Charleston-born vocalist Tommy Brown Jr. said he learned a while back that comparison is the thief of joy. As a soul and gospel singer both in and out of the church for more than two decades, he’s taken that lesson beyond stage performance and into the Holy City’s community of creatives.
With his networking and event-focused brands WeCre8 and Creation Station, Brown aims to equip other local creatives with tools for success and a network of support.
“If you’re doing what you’re doing for recognition [from] others, you’re always going to be reaching for something that’s unattainable,” Brown told the Charleston City Paper. “The satisfaction of enjoying what you’re doing for yourself is going to put you in a place where you’re more comfortable to create. And eventually, it’ll touch who it’s supposed to touch. It’s going to get to who it’s supposed to get to.”
In February, Creation Station started a series of intimate concerts with a “close-knit, small crowd” at a residence dubbed The Clubhouse on Spring Street. Brown performed at the first event, followed by Charleston singer-songwriter Emily Curtis in March and vocalist Lafaye earlier this week. Up next on June 12 is fellow Holy City native DJ Scrib, known for his seamless blending and varied music library. Brown said he plans to schedule spoken-word artists and improv comedy as well.
“It’s a place for the creative to really just be in their expression of the art,” he said. “I kind of want an [NPR] Tiny Desk feel. The goal is to have a physical establishment that houses everything from music to photography and videography all in one place.”
WeCre8 is an informative brand that sprang up around 2018 when Brown transitioned from working as an engineer at companies such as Mercedes and Boeing to practicing trades such as photography and consultation in addition to gigging.
“Once I realized that there were things that people were willing to pay for that I’ve been doing for free all the time,” he said. “It opened my mind … so I took the leap. And at that time, everybody was asking me for resources. So I was like, ‘People get paid to deliver resources to people.’ So that’s how WeCre8 started out.”
Equipping creatives
WeCre8 is Brown’s informative brand that highlights what creatives are doing in the city and starts conversations around entrepreneurial arts. Currently, you can find WeCre8 on Instagram, but Brown aims to launch an app in the future as well as assemble panels of artists across mediums to share how they function as creatives.
“It’s geared to the mentality of the creative thinking that leads to the expression,” Brown said. “You’re thinking you’re crazy because you express yourself a lot differently — WeCre8 is like the level set for that. We try to relay the message that you can flourish in your creativity. That’s the brand that goes to schools and talks to kids, goes to College of Charleston and talks about how to incorporate creativity into educational curriculum to help people think out of the box.”
Brown performed at the Culture Keepers Black History Brunch in February hosted by the College of Charleston’s Avery Research Center. Tamara Butler, executive director of the Avery Research Center, said Brown is currently cooking up an exciting summer event with the center.
“Tommy’s love of music — his soul and passion — shines in every performance and collaboration,” Butler told the City Paper. “He is also one of my favorite musicians because he is versatile. One minute he is serving as worship leader at a local church, the next day or so he’s singing Sam Cooke for an audience enjoying dinner. The same holds true for him as a creative: He likes to blend genres and create memorable experiences that both new and longtime audiences enjoy. … His performances teleport people each time.”
Brown said he wants to impress upon students of all ages they can be successful as a creative, much like they could as an engineer or educator.
“You can function well in your art,” he said. “The arts can turn into a career if you understand business acumen. These are things that we can teach kids.
“I feel like I’m one of a million people in the world that struggle with a balance — if there’s a way that I can help somebody else figure it out, then by all means, that’s what I’m here for. I really believe in ‘reach one, teach one.’ ”
As he confronts the redundancy of everyday responsibilities, Brown said he focuses on how to generate novelty and enthusiasm within that framework as a performer and entrepreneur.
“Our main consumer has to be ourselves. If we don’t love what we’re doing for us, then it’s not going to be authentic for anybody else,” he said. “The community will give you energy to keep going, but you’ve got to put the battery in your own back.”
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